NCJ Number
74396
Date Published
1980
Length
15 pages
Annotation
An aesthetic theory of vandalism explains the role of environmental or stimulus characteristics in destruction. This article discusses its effects upon individual self-control, and introduces the concept of social identity for harmonizing aesthetic factors and perceived control.
Abstract
An aesthetic theory, consisting of affective, cognitive, and social components, can specify the type of dynamic stimulus configurations in the physical environment that produce varying degrees of positive affective exerience in the individual. Seven empirical studies dealing primarily with the visual sensory modality are described to suggest that psychological factors accounting for pleasurable experiences associated with art, music and literature help explain the varying degree of enjoyment felt during acts of destruction. The positive consequences of destruction for an individual's perception of personal control and efficacy can be observed in several studies. Research on the concept of social identity, defined as the affect produced by the action of aesthetic variables upon perceived social control, supports the direct relation between affect and control. Thus, a change in affect can influence a person's perception of control; a change in perceived control can likewise alter one's affective experience. Therefore, during the process of destructive vandalism, the activation of aesthetic variables evokes a positive affective response, which enhances feelings of self-control. Aspects of the physical environment or individual characteristics can be modified so as to make destruction a less positive cognitive and aesthetic experience.